Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed husain qamar jalaalavi (1887-1968), was born in jalaali, near aligaRh, moved to pakistan after partition/independence. He was popularly known as ‘ustad’, for his expertise in repairing bicycles, which is how he earned his living and lived in penury, in spite of his excellence as a poet. He wrote Ghazal is chaste classical style, many of which have been put to music. This is one of several thematic collections of his maqta in which he uses his taKhallus with great witticism.
1
dekhi qamar kuchh afshaaN¹ us mah-jabiN² ke ruKh³ par
kitne haseen⁴ taare lagte haiN chaandni meN    1.glitter (usually applied to the forehead as glittering particles) 2.moon-forehead, moon-faced 3.face 4.beautiful
The brow/forehead of the beloved is like the moon (say a quarter-moon) – both in shape and in brightness. The glitter on her brow appears like stars around the moon. And because ‘qamar’ is watching, there is chaandni. Thus there is a multiple play on words as the poet/lover looks at the beloved and addresses himself.
2
qamar afshaaN¹ chuni² hai us ne, ruKh³ pe is saleeqe⁴ se
sitaare aasmaaN se dekhne to aaye jaate haiN    1.glitter 2.selected, arranged 3.face, brow 4.tastefully, elegance
O qamar, she has arranged glitter on her forehead with such elegance that stars descend from the skies to have a look. Decsending stars could be shooting stars – she is so beautiful that all this tumult happens in the sky and of course, qamar is watching.
3
jalva-gar¹ bazm²-e haseenaaN³ meN haiN vo is shaan⁴ se
chaand jaise aye qamar taarauN bhari mahfil⁵ meN ho    1.displaying beauty 2.gathering, assembly 3.beauties 4.elegance 5.assembly, party
The beloved is surrounded by her friends. Her beauty outshines theirs with such elegance that she looks like the moon among many stars. Of course, the poet himself is also ‘qamar’. Thus the poet is (tongue in cheek) praising his own beauty/style.
4
tere qurbaan¹ qamar, muNh sar²-e gulzaar³ na khol
sadqe⁴ is chaand si soorat pe na ho jaaye bahaar⁵     1.used colloquially to mean ‘do this for my life’ 2.at the head of 3.garden 4.sacrifice itself
It is spring and the beloved has come for a stroll in the garden. She is about to take her veil off. The poet/lover is alarmed – I beg you upon my life, please don’t take your veil off. Spring will die/sacrifice itself because your moonlike beauty is far superior to the beauty of Spring. Of course, the use of ‘qamar’ and ‘chaand’ goes so well with the name and pen-name of the poet.
5
lee-dee¹ si ek nigaah² sitaaroN pe Daal ke
sharma gaye ke dekh raha hai qamar mujhe    1.an expression used to mean ‘casual’ 2.glance
The beloved cast a casual glance at the stars and was embarrassed to see that the full moon/poet/lover staring at her.
6
qamar achha nahiN gesu¹ ruKh²-e raushan pe aa jaana
gahan³ jab bhi laga hai chaand ki tanveer⁴ bigRi hai    1.hair, locks 2.face, forehead, cheeks 3.eclipse 4.brilliance
There is beautiful play in praising the beauty of the beloved and at the same time tongue in cheek praising his own good looks because his name and pen-name is ‘qamar’. The locks of the beloved come loose and blow in front of her face. The poet/lover likens it to an eclipse and admonishes the beloved to be careful about spoiling the beauty of the moon.
7
khalbali¹ much gayee taarauN meN qamar² ne dekha
shab ko ye chaand si surat jo dikha di tum ne    1.disturbance, panic 2.full moon, poet’s pen-name
On the surface it is straightforward praise of the beauty of the beloved. She shows her moonlike face, and all the stars are in a state of excitement at seeing this spectacle. But the play on words suggests that he may be praising his own beauty.